Hochul names interim leadership for cannabis regulatory agency

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday announced a trio of new appointments to lead the state Office of Cannabis Management following the resignation of former Executive Director Chris Alexander, whose last day on the job was Friday.

Taking over for Alexander will be Felicia Reid, whom Hochul named as executive deputy director and acting executive director for the OCM. Reid will oversee the primary functions of the office, including business licensing, regulatory compliance and enforcement, according to a press release from Hochul’s office.

Reid is a career bureaucrat who has worked in New York state government for more than a decade. She comes to the OCM from the state Office of Children and Family Services, where she worked for six years, including the last three as deputy commissioner.

Reid’s appointment is only temporary, however, as Hochul’s Appointments Office is also launching a nationwide search for a permanent replacement for Alexander. The full-time replacement will have to be confirmed by the state Senate.

Read the rest of the story at Green Market Report.